“I’m very happy, and chuffed. We could not have asked for something more. We are trough to a home-final (in the Ram Slam T20 Challenge). We have also qualified for the Champions League Twenty20. But we want some silverware. We finished 2 runs short of a perfect season (in 2013/2014). We want to rectify it,” said a jubilant Justin Ontong, skipper of the Nashua Cape Cobras.

He spoke at the post-match presentation following the Cobras’ 8-run win against the Chevrolet Knights in their Ram Slam T20 Challenge match at Chevrolet Park in Bloemfontein on Sunday. The close win ensured that the Cape franchise could not be overtaken at the summit of the table. The Cobras have 33 points after nine matches, followed by the bizhub Highveld Lions on 26 points and the Chevrolet Knights on 22 points, also after nine clashes. The Cobras managed 145 for four in their 20 overs. The Knights needed 18 runs to win off the final over, but Ferisco Adams produced a magnificent final over to limit the hosts to 137 for four. The Cobras will host the Ram Slam T20 Challenge final on Friday 12th November at the Newlands Cricket Stadium against either the Knights or the Lions. “We are very pleased we made it through to the Champions Trophy tournament again,” said Ontong. The Cobras have some unfinished business in the global T20-showpiece, where they are still to win the title. They were disappointing in 2014 in India. “Our spinners bowled exceptionally well,” the captain said about the superb performance against the Knights. The 145 for four was a competitive score, but not necessarily a winning one. But the left-arm spinner Robin Peterson produced a magical three for 21 in four overs, including the prized scalp of Rilee Rossouw. He also bowled 12 dot balls. George Linde took one for 18, including the wicket of Reeza Hendricks. He has now taken 13 wickets in the domestic T20-competition at an economy-rate of 6.11. “The secret was bowling a back-of-the-length delivery that either spin or skidded through. At the Wanderers it could be unforgiving, but in Bloemfontein there are big boundaries and the surface can support spin,” Peterson said. Earlier, Richard Levi slammed 64 off 61 with two fours and two sixes on a surface that seemed to be slow and a bit two-paced following the rain in Bloemfontein on Friday. “It’s probably the first and the last time I get as a batsman of the match award with a strike-rate of 110,” said Levi. “But I will take the runs. Last season this time, I was going through a lean patch. I also did not play in the first match of the Champions League. It is nice to prove a point,” he added. Levi has scored 369 runs at an average of 46.12 and a strike-rate of 146.42.

The aggressive attacking by the spinners in the middle-overs and the confidence shown by the leadership team in the inexperienced young players, powered the Nashua Cape Cobras to a home-final and qualification for the Champions League Twenty20, commented Paul Adams, the Cobras coach.

The Cobras finished on an insurmountable 33 points at the summit of the Ram Slam T20 Challenge after nine matches, out of reach of the chasing bizhub Highveld Lions (on 26 points after 9 clashes) and the Chevrolet Knights (on 22 points). The Cape Town franchise qualified for the home-final despite being depleted by injuries to Beuran Hendricks, JP Duminy, Rory Kleinveldt (missed the first part of the Ram Slam T20 Challenge), Justin Kemp (missed the first part of the campaign) and Dane Piedt. “It was great for the young players – for their sense of self-belief and for the vibe in the team, to produce under pressure,” said Adams. “The leadership wanted to instil confidence in the young players and believed in them,” he said. In a weekend of convincing victories, the Cobras romped to a 72-run win against the Chevrolet Warriors at St. George’s Park on Friday, courtesy of a record-partnership of 140 for the opening wicket between Richard Levi and Andrew Puttick and a sensational four for 22 by SA Engelbrecht. George Linde added three for 26 to restrict the Warriors to 115. The Cobras edged the Chevrolet Knights by 8 runs on Sunday. Levi was uncharacteristically sedate in scoring 64 off 61 balls as the Cobras managed 145 for four. Robin Peterson then nipped out three for 21 and Linde took one for 18 in four overs as the Knights were limited to 137 for four, a loss that fired the Cobras to the final and qualification for the Champions League Twenty20. Ferisco Adams bowled a splendid final over when the Knights needed eighteen runs, but could only muster one boundary. The coach said he was impressed with the way the spinners attacked in the middle overs and built pressure in an attempt to take wickets. The skipper, Justin Ontong, used a fielder at silly point and at slip in his quest for wickets. Adams was also full of praise for the death bowling by Ferisco Adams. “Ferisco delivered under enormous pressure. Justin has thrown the ball to him previously at the back-end and he showed what he is capable of. He came through that test with flying colours,” said Adams. “(Kieron) Pollard has also made a massive difference to his Cobras team,” added Adams. Asked if there would be some changes to the team for the final league match at Paarl on Wednesday, Adams indicated he would stick to a winning formula. “I have to speak to Onters (Justin Ontong, the captain) first, but I don’t think there would be much changes.”

A RECORD partnership between Richard Levi and Andrew Puttick allowed the Nashua Cape Cobras to post a record score and maintain firm control of top spot in the RAM SLAM T20 with a bonus-point win over the Chevrolet Warriors.

Levi and Puttick put on an opening stand of 140 after the Cobras had been inserted by the Warriors, beating the previous best first-wicket partnership at St. George’s Park of 129 between Jacques Kallis and Ashwell Prince for the Warriors against the Lions in the 2009/10 season.

That Kallis-Prince alliance had created the highest score on the ground as the Warriors went on to amass 186 for two, but that was also improved by the Cobras as they racked up 187 for three.

Kieron Pollard (32 not out from 15 balls) provided the fireworks at the end as he took 24 runs from the final over, twice hitting Lundi Mbane clean out of the ground.

The game was over as a contest as early as the third over of the reply as the Warriors slumped to seven for three, with Dane Paterson picking up two of the wickets - the second of which saw Puttick dive full-length to his left at slip to pouch a Colin Ingram edge one-handed.

Left-arm spinner George Linde snuffed out any middle order resistance, outwitting top-scorer Ryan Bailey to have him stumped for 35 before going on to record figures of 3 for 26.

The Warriors needed to score 150 to deny the Cobras a bonus point or 112 to avoid their lowest ever score against the Cobras in the format.

They achieved the second objective but not the first as they were bowled out for 115 to lose by a massive 72 runs.

With the Chevrolet Knights beating the Sunfoil Dolphins with a bonus point, the identity of the top three has been confirmed and so the Warriors will be making up the numbers in their final two games.

Meanwhile, the Cobras boast a three-point lead over the Lions at the top of the table going into the last two game days.

The South African Cricketers’ Association (SACA) wishes to express the sadness of the South African player fraternity at the tragic loss of Australian cricketer Phillip Hughes.

“The very sad news of the passing away of Phil Hughes has resonated with me and many in the cricket world family,” said South Africa’s Test captain, Hashim Amla. “He was a fellow player and this news has certainly hit my heart. I personally admired him for his mettle and the way he made a mountain of runs despite an unorthodox style.” “On behalf of the Proteas team, we offer our most sincere and deep condolences to his family, friends and everyone mourning the loss of this young champion. Our thoughts and prayers are with them.” AB de Villiers, South Africa’s ODI captain said “I’m really sad to hear about Phil Hughes. His death is a great loss to the game. Our thoughts and prayers are with Phil’s family, and also with Sean Abbott at this difficult time.” “On behalf of all of South Africa’s professional cricketers in our cricket franchises and provinces, I send condolences to Phil’s parents, Greg and Virginia, and his brother, Jason, and sister, Megan,” said Tony Irish, SACA’s Chief executive.Ends

THE Nashua Cape Cobras know that they must find the formula to crack the Chevrolet Warriors if they are to finish the RAM SLAM T20 round robin phase in the fashion required to secure a home final.

In a strange scheduling twist, the two sides will meet twice in six days over the last three rounds of the competition - first in a televised encounter at St. George’s Park on Friday night; then in Paarl on Wednesday.

The Cobras currently lead the table by two points with three games to play, but face a Warriors side that has found form in the second half of the tournament, and which will be motivated by the need for three straight victories to stay in the running for the playoffs.

“I think the Warriors are always dangerous, and we’ve got them twice in the coming week so it’s important that we get our game plans right,” Cobras coach Paul Adams said.

“They possess some match-winners in that squad and it’s important that we pitch up with the right energy and make our presence felt.”

Home ground advantage has played a big part in the competition thus far, with just three away victories being registered - a statistic only partly compromised by the fact that four games have been played on neutral ground during triple-headers.

For Warriors coach, Piet Botha, the advantage of Friday’s game being played In Port Elizabeth is not so much to do with the conditions on the field as the support from the stands.

“The big thing for us is that we get a lot of encouragement from the crowd, especially in this format of the game, and that’s a major motivational factor for the players,” he said.

“Games between us and the Cobras at St. George’s have often been close affairs, so hopefully that support can help to get us over the line.”

With the Proteas players only set to return to action in Sunday’s triple-header in Bloemfontein, both sides have retained the same squads for Friday.

The SOS-call to Robin Peterson wasn’t necessary after all, as Sybrand Engelbrecht has ensured the team-management that the infection that has caused discomfort in his jaw-area has improved and that he will be ready for the Ram Slam T20 Challenge clash against the Chevrolet Warriors.

Engelbrecht will be one of the two spinners of the Nasua Cape Cobras who could play a pivotal role against the Warriors on what is expected to be a slow wicket at St. George’s Park in Port Elizabeth on Friday. The off-spinner said he had ear infection about a month ago, and has recently experienced head aches and some pain the area of his jaw. He has sufficiently improved to fly to Port Elizabeth. Engelbrecht has been a revelation for the Cobras since replacing JP Duminy as all-rounder during the Champions League Twenty20 in India. Peterson, who has just returned from the One Day International series against Australia where he nabbed out four Australian batsmen for 32 runs in the fifth and final match, was on standby to replace Engelbrecht. He will possibly play on Sunday in the Ram Slam T20 Challenge clash against the Chevrolet Knights at Chevrolet Park in Bloemfontein. Rory Kleinveldt, a national fast bowler, will replace Shaheen Khan in the thirteen-man squad for the match against the Warriors. Khan injured ankle-ligaments during the warm-ups at the Newlands Cricket Stadium on Wednesday. Stiaan van Zyl can still not force his way into the team, which is a testimony to the current form of the top-of-the-table Cobras. Van Zyl was a member of the national test squad for the test series against Sri Lanka and the one-off test against Zimbabwe, and had been in scintillating form with the bat in the Sunfoil Series in the 2013/2014-series. He also produced a splendid performance for the Cobras against the bizhub Highveld Lions in a Momentum One Day Cup match at Paarl before injuring his leg. “It is a very difficult situation. I presume it is a pleasant selection-poiser,” said Ontong. “You don’t want to change a winning combination and scratch unnecessarily.” “We discussed our performances and the requirements at the back-end of the competition. We realize we cannot become complacent. Two or three excellent performances by the Warriors and we will be on the losing end. “We are about 20 % off the performances of teams who are considered heavyweights in the Champions League Twenty20. We have made great starts, but the middle-order is still not doing that well. “I am one of the players that need to stick up his hand,” said Ontong. The skipper said the fielding is still a problem area. “To be honest, it is a worrying aspect of cricket domestically. “It is not only the case in the Ram Slam T20 Challenge, but it was also disappointing in the Momentum One Day Cup competition,” he said about the many catches that have been dropped the past two months by all franchises. The Cobras-squad for the match against the Warriors is: The Cobras squad for the match against the Chevrolet Warriors on Friday is:Justin Ontong (capt),Andrew Puttick,Dane Paterson,Dane Vilas, Ferisco Adams,George F Linde,Kieron Pollard, Lizaad Williams,Mthokozisi Shezi,Omphile Ramela,Richard Levi, Rory Kleinveldt,Sybrand Engelbrecht.

While some other Western Cape-based sportsmen and -women were dreading the winter weather and hibernating in May, June, July and August, Ferisco Adams spent hours and hours honing his skills as a fast bowler at the Bishops Indoor Centre under the guidance of Charl Langveldt.

Those four months of toil and some mental mentoring by Langeveldt have been successful, as Adams has taken 10 wickets for the Nashua Cape Cobras in the Ram Slam T20 Challenge competition at a miserly average of 9.90. Adams captured three for 27 in the win against The Unlimited Titans at Kingsmead in Durban, his best T20-performance yet. But it was his two for 19 against the Sunfoil Dolphins (that helped to set up a 7-wicket win) and his two for 14 in three overs against the bizhub Highveld Lions at Newlands that turned heads. Adams has been a step ahead of the competition. He has used the Yorkers and his slower off-cutters well in between deliveries of up to 140 km/h. Adams said that the three to four-month stint with Langeveldt definitely helped him to improve his consistency. Asked about his mental approach on the field, Adams said: “I know I can do anything on the field. There will always be pressure. But Charl told me that I should stay in the moment, stay calm and assess clearly on what I want to achieve. He has told me not to overthink the situation.” On Sunday, Adams produced a match-changing double-strike which set the Lions-chase spinning out of control. He removed Neil McKenzie and Jean Symes, two of the most prolific Lions-batsmen, in the space of five deliveries. The Lions, in pursuit of 155 for a win, were dismissed for a paltry 77 and the Cobras recorded an emphatic 77-run win. Asked about the highlights of the season, he said the three for 27 against the Titans at Kingsmead was obviously something special. “But to be honest, every time I step onto the field in the Cobras-jersey, it is a personal highlight.”

Not even the most passionate fans who follow the Nashua Cape Cobras closely, might have known the potential that George F. Linde possessed. And only the Boland supporters might have had in-depth assessment of Ferisco Adams’ Yorkers and bouncers.

Following the two wins by the Cobras the weekend that helped them to leap-frog the bizhub Highveld Lions to the summit of the Ram Slam T20 Challenge table, very few supporters would not know about the qualities of the two young bowlers. “George has done great following the injury to Dane Piedt and Robin Peterson’s call-up to the national team,” said Paul Adams, the Cobras coach. “He gets excellent bounce because of his height,” said Justin Ontong, the Cobras captain. “As a young bowler, George handles pressure well,” added the skipper. Indeed. Linde captured the wickets of Jonathan Vandiar, Dwayne Bravo and Robbie Frylinck in the space of eight deliveries on Friday as the Sunfoil Dolphins imploded. The Cobras subsequently powered to a 7-wicket win in their domestic T20-clash. On Sunday, the 22-year left-arm spinner took the wickets of Temba Bavuma, Dwaine Pretorius and Thami Tsolekile in two overs, and the Cobras romped to a bonus-point win as the hosts won by 77 runs. Linde finished with three for 21. Adams said he has always been a believer in having two spinning options available in domestic T20-cricket. The Cobras coaching team has worked hard with Linde in helping him to comprehend that you should not bowl a full length at T20-level. He has bowled a shorter length, and has also achieved bounce. The batsmen could not quite get to the bounce, and holed out to fielders in the deep. Ontong said Linde reminded him of a former national spinner and current South African spinning consultant, Claude Henderson. Adams has taken 10 wickets in the Ram Slam T20 Challenge competition at an average of 9.90, which is a better return than any other Cobras bowler. “Ferisco bowls the Yorkers well and also possesses a skiddy bouncer because he is not too tall, while he also has excellent variety,” added Ontong. Ontong said the national players will only be available for the T20-matches on Sunday. But even upon their return, the Cobras might be left with a quandary, as the young bowlers, including Adams, Linde, Dane Paterson and SA Engelbrecht, have been excellent. “I am very impressed with our young bowlers and with the way they have evolved. It is a great sign for the Cobras,” said Ontong. “We cannot be complacent right now. Peaking at the business end of the competition is what it is all about,” added the captain.

THE Nashua Cape Cobras edged ahead in the race for a RAM SLAM T20 home final as an all-round performance saw them thump the bizhub Highveld Lions by 77 runs at Newlands on Sunday.

After Omphile Ramela (46) and Dane Vilas (51) had propelled the hosts to 154 for seven, the younger members of the Cobras attack took the key wickets as the Lions were shot out for just 77 in 15.3 overs.

As a result, the Cobras earned a bonus point and leapfrogged the Lions to take a two-point lead at the top of the table with three games to play.

The importance of securing a home final - or even a home playoff - is clear given that none of the current top three have lost a game on their own patch in this competition.

The Cobras’ knowledge of their own conditions was apparent in the innings of Richard Levi, who held himself back and scored his 25 at less than a run a ball on a surface where the ball did not come on.

Levi’s knock laid the foundation on which Ramela and Vilas built a 54-run partnership for the third wicket in just 35 deliveries, with Vilas registering a 27-ball fifty.

In response the Lions never got going, with Dane Paterson claiming the prized wicket of Chris Gayle in the second over, before picking up two wickets later on to finish with the outstanding figures of 3 for 9 in 2.3 overs.

When Neil McKenzie (31) and Temba Bavuma (20) threatened to get a partnership going in the second quarter of the chase, Ferisco Adams (2 for 14) and George Linde snuffed it out and then ran through the middle order.

The Cobras needed to restrict the Lions to 123 or less to grab the bonus point, which they easily did as the Lions were dismissed for their lowest ever T20 total.

Linde finished with 3 for 21 from four overs to earn the Ram Deliverer of the Day, while Vilas was the Ram Slammer.

RICHARD LEVI hammered one of the fastest fifties of the RAM SLAM T20 Challenge as the Nashua Cape Cobras beat the Sunfoil Dolphins by seven wickets in a 10-over game to move up to second on the table.

Levi went to his half-century in just 25 balls, narrowly slower than Chris Gayle’s 21-ball fifty against the Warriors two weeks ago, which ensured that the Cobras chased down a target of 85 with four balls to spare.A lengthy rain shower at Sahara Stadium Kingsmead delayed the start of the game and reduced its length by half, and when it finally got underway the Dolphins threw everything at their visitors.

The result was losing their opening batsmen with just nine runs on the board, before Jonathan Vandiar (33) and Vaughn van Jaarsveld (29) added 49 for the third wicket in 5.3 overs.

The partnership was broken by left-arm spinner George Linde, who went on to take 3 for 15 in his two overs as none of the other Dolphins batsmen reached double figures in a final total of 84 for eight.

The Dolphins needed Levi out early if they were going to defend it, but instead he smashed two sixes and seven fours in his 54, which took him just 27 balls.When he departed to Dwayne Bravo the Cobras needed just 15 more runs in 17 deliveries, and had no problem in ticking them off.

The Cobras leapfrogged the Knights into second place as a result, and moved to within three points of the Lions thanks to their defeat by the Titans.